Amazing trip to London, Bath, The Cotswolds and Oxford U.K. Kateryna knows her stuff!
England | May 1 - May 13, 2026

Richard
Richard S.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on May 20, 2026

Amazing trip to London! Kateryna was a great planner and checked off our list of things to do in London, Bath, the Cotswolds and Oxford. Kate was always available at a moments notice and stepped in when we needed help along the way. She called ahead to our hotels so that they would be prepared as we arrived and she sorted out any touristy questions that we had as we arrived and departed each location. We've used kimkim before for our trip to Spain (and it was also great), but Kate made us feel like we had someone we could reach out to at any time. We also ventured into The Netherlands for four days, but the planning on that segment did incur some problems. Tickets to museums were not pre-purchased and we had to scramble needlessly. "Self Guided" tours in several Holland cities left it us to research activities on our own. In review, we should have stayed in the U.K. for the whole trip as Kate has that country figured out completely. We would use and will use kimkim again for our next trip

Hotel Reviews
The Academy London

GREAT breakfast NO elevators SPACIOUS rooms LOUD street noise day and night CENTRAL location

Authenticity & Character
Classic row homes converted into a hip, clean, hotel.
Location
Close to the Underground system and easy to catch a cab outside the front door
Staff
EVERYBODY was SUPER hospitable. Breakfast ladies were amazing and top notch.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Poor housekeepers need to go up and down a lot of stairs!
Hotel Indigo Bath
Bath

BEST hotel during our entire trip! Scrumptious breakfast, QUIET hotel room, SUPER central location and incredible staff.

Authenticity & Character
INCREDIBLE job in converting a classic building into a truly modern hotel.
Location
Right in the heart of town and walking distance from the train station.
Staff
These people understand how to take care of their guests.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wish we could have stayed longer, room was the most comfortable during our two week trip encompassing 5 hotels.
The Store
Oxford

CENTRAL location in Oxford....clean, comfortable, safe hotel with an amazing breakfast all run by a professional and top-notch staff. Because the location is right in the middle of Oxford, many of the local food choices are geared towards the student population....lot's of fast food joints and restaurants that seem to target the students. Wish we could have tried the hotel's restaurant for dinner, but it didn't open until 5:30pm and our ride to London departed at 6pm. Based on the breakfasts we had at the hotel, the dinner menu would have been the best around.

Authenticity & Character
Hotel has everything! Great restaurant and bar, Spa with massage services, comfortable, quiet rooms
Location
Right smack dab in the center of Oxford.
Staff
Front desk staff can do hand stands and back flips! Anything we needed, the were there to step up.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, quiet, and safe rooms.....mini fridge didn't cool, but the front desk staff was getting it addressed.
Pullman London St Pancras
London

Right next door to the major train station! Street traffic seemed to be in gridlock around the hotel in every direction, but having the train station with the EuroStar service next door was genius on our planner's part (Kate). Another hotel with EXCELLENT breakfast service, but having dinner at the hotel was an experience that took two hours! Seems that the kitchen was having a tough time keeping up with the orders from the dining room. Mentioned the delays to our server and he graciously took a couple drinks off our tab.

Authenticity & Character
Modern hotel, with great views of the city, quiet on the upper floors, safe, clean and comfortable.
Location
Train station right next door! Location, location, location.
Staff
Another professional crew of hospitality folks.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was large, clean and comfortable. Bathroom also large in comparison to other local hotels....nice shower.
Hotel des Arts
Amsterdam-Centrum

Super location, super staff, super ideal! The staff at this hotel was like having a local friend that helps you out when you are in town. Housekeeping: top notch - Breakfast staff: EXCELLENT cleanliness and food options. This staff provided us with the BEST start of the day, every day. - Front Desk: What can I say? Like your friend you've been waiting to talk to in Amsterdam.

Authenticity & Character
Totally authentic house close to the canal that has been transformed into a comfortable hotel.
Location
Right in the middle of the city. Steps from the Metro station.
Staff
EVERYTHING they did: directions, recommendations, food options, museum options, the staff is the BEST!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Housekeeping is on it! Everyday, every spec of dust, ....we were getting spoiled by their attentiveness.
Activity Reviews
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
London

Great driver who knew the city inside and out. He found ways to make it through the city that we could never replicate again. Super conversation from a local character that we well versed in the history of the city.

Quality of Experience
Lot's of history
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Well educated driver on the history of London (and a lot of the U.S. too!)
Transport
Comfortable, newer London taxi with a driver that navigated some of the most difficult passages.
Thames Cruise with Dinner
Thames Cruise with Dinner
London

Prepare to "herd" aboard a dinner cruise in which you don't get to choose what you want for dinner. The minions (us and forty or so other guests) get to sit right in the middle (where usual dinner cruises have a dance floor and everyone gets a table close to a window). We were given "menus" which had several choices, but when I asked about them, was told that the menu is to show you what drinks you can order. Everybody gets a chicken dish....everybody. The staff was as if they were in forced labor, no smiles and no frowns. Entertainment was a Karaoke singer. Having done dinner cruises in other cities in other countries, this was unexpected.....hope it didn't cost too much?

Quality of Experience
Turn the business into a legit dinner cruise
Food
Choices - at least 2 or 3 choices.....please?
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Smiles everybody!
Transport
Staff involvement? Sights to see?
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko